rtaylor111

Just purchased, 58K miles going to be having timing belt done and know that will not help performance but while he is doing that anything that I can invest in low cost maintenance that might help performance, car just seems sluggish even with power button. I am not sure the gas was great as car was not driven very regularly so not through that issue yet. I know it is not a rocket but just hoping you have some ideas…

Thanks in advance!

SC400slide

iTrader: (11)

Dirty injectors, dirty IACV, dirty MAF, exhaust restriction, though, I would start with getting a $5 fuel system cleaner. Also could be dirty air cleaner, check it as well.

rtaylor111

Thanks for the response. Are you a believer in the KN filters?

SC400slide

iTrader: (11)

Don't use K&N filters. Would like to try one sometime though...

LScowboyLS

I had the same problem on my 96 LS400, just really sluggish performance, so I replaced the distributor caps, rotors, plugs, plug wires, air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, cleaned the throttle body & butterfly, still no power.

then I replaced my ECU capacitors and woohoo! - there is that V-8 power I have been searchin for!!



do you really think the engineers at Lexus/Toyota know less about the ideal air filtration & performance & fuel mileage for your LS400 than the yahoo's at K&N, oh puhleeze!

If there was any magic to be gained by changing the air filter/intake baffling design on a "price is no object" car that these days costs $85,000 - I think Toyota would have implemented it from the factory! - Be logical

rtaylor111

Thanks for the post. I looked at your link quickly. Correct me if I am wrong but it looks like it requires soldering?

LScowboyLS

yes, it requires soldering and being careful and having patience and making sure you find the correct brand and series of capacitors (such as Rubycon ZLH)

but the total expense is less than $10 total and perhaps you have a friend who is a geek and a competent solderer?

besides, this will eventually become a huge problem area on your LS400, it is a known design defect, might as well get it done and start enjoying the power!

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

Let me give you a recommendation based on hearsay for a product i've never used

be logical, if the filter costs more money without offering toyota any gain at all (and takes money away from their dealerships in parts/service revenue) why would they spend the extra $$/car for a minor performance and service saving bump?

Do you have any idea what those "yahoos" at k&n (and AEM, now part of the same family) do when engineering (yes, they actually engineer their products..) a new product? The hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of test equipment they keep in their facility?



OP your car is probably just in need of a good tune-up, as it sounds like it's been neglected the past few years. distributor caps, rotors, spark plugs, plug wires, an air filter, oil change, and oil filter will probably give you a noticeable improvement. A fuel system treatment of your choice is probably not a bad idea either. The ECU issue is relatively common, and has been known of for many years, but unless your car still has performance issues after getting the maintenance up to date, is not much of a factor.